Beverage vending machine



July 7, 1953 Filed April 25, 1950 C. GABRIELSEN BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHE/5774M 6/98R/EL5EA/ BY L QQM ATT RNEY July 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN 2,644,734

BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C H/P/5 77AM 6452/5455 mck y 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN 2,644,734

BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE INVENTOR CHE/5774M Gas/WE 55M BY I E A ORNEY y 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN 2,644,734

BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 1950 j 4 (HR/5774 Gaze/5455M A ORNEY July 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed April 25, 1950 /54 INVENTOR Omar/4M GflBR/ELSFA BY mm A ORNEY July 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 25. 1950 INVENTOR C/vw/srm/v GAMER/EL 55m MLOJL ORNEY July 7, 1953 c. GABRIELSEN BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 25, 1950 INVENTOR AM/5 mew 6145/4 /54 55M NEY A? LR Patented July 7, 1953 BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Christian Gabrielsen, Whippany, N. .L, assignor to Rowe Manufacturing (30., Inc., Whippany, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application April 25, 1950, Serial No. 158,019

18 Claims.

My invention relates to a beverage vending machine and more particularly to a machine for dispensing, in response to the deposit of coins, bottled or cartoned beverages such as milk, chocolate milk or carbonated beverages which are maintained in a refrigerated condition.

The beverage vending machines of the prior art have a limited capacity and are designed to vend one or several varieties of beverage of a predetermined quantity. The delivery chutes of the vending machines of the prior art are either constantly open to the atmosphere or require the opening of a large door thereby placing an increased load on the refrigerating apparatus used to maintain the beverages in a cooled condition.

One object of my invention is to provide a beverage vending machine of increased capacity.

Another object of my invention is to provide a beverage vending machine which is flexible in design and which can be used to vend cartoned or bottled beverages of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a beverage vending machine adapted to vend beverages of different kinds in which the ratio of beverages of one kind to the beverages of another kind may be varied Within wide limits, in a simple, convenient and expeditious manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vending machine having storage levels from which containers of beverages to be vended are automatically transferred to a feed belt from which a unit of the beverage to be vended is automatically transferred to a delivery belt for transportation to the vending position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a beverage vending machine in which the delivery station is normally housed within a refrigerated container and. accessible through a small door at a position remote from the feed belt so that merchandise may not be fished from the feed belt through the delivery door.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coin controlled beverage vending machine in which merchandise is automatically transferred from the storage shelf to the feed belt whenever the feed belt is depleted.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description:

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a beverage vending machine containing one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the plane 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a plan view taken along the line 6-5 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line l of, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the electrical control circuits involved.

In general, my invention contemplates the provision of a casing refrigerated by suitable refrig crating equipment and provided with heat insu lating walls. Supported within the casing I provide a storage shelf adapted to support rows of bottles or cartons of the beverage to be vended. Adjacent each end of the storage shelf are a pair of feed belts onto which a row of merchandise from the storage shelf is adapted to be pushed. Each feed. belt is adapted to support a row of merchandise. Pusher members moving in opposite directions are adapted to push merchandise from the storage shelf onto respective feed belts. One pusher member is adapted to feed merchandise of one kind, as for example, milk, and another pusher member is adapted to feed merchandise of another kind as, for example, chocolate milk. The pusher members may be adjusted along the shelf to give different areas upon which to store merchandise or the different kinds, the total area, of course, remaining constant. The feed belts are positioned near each end of the machine and are adapted to feed a carton or container of the beverage being vended to a delivery belt, of which there are two, which are positioned for movement at right angles to the direction of movement of the feed belt. The feed belt is started in response to a coin or coins of proper denomination. The delivery belt is started by the movement of the merchandise onto the delivery belt and is stopped automatically at the delivery position. The merchandise pushers act automatically to push a row of merchandise onto the feed belt whenever a feed belt becomes empty. The merchandise is adapted to be removed through a normally closed door. There are two doors, one for each kind of merchandise being vended, adjacent the center of the machine at which position the coins are adapted to be inserted into a coin register.

More particularly, referring now to the drawings, a cabinet I0 of any suitable construction is provided with insulated top I4 and an insulated bottom I6. The top is provided centrally thereof with a pair of doors I8 and 2f) having handles 22 and 24 so that the doors may be lifted to the dotted line position shown in Figure l to give access to the merchandise supported directly below the doors upon the respective delivery belts 26 and 28. The merchandise to be vended is supported upon a stationary shelf til which may be formed of corrugated metal or the like and carried in any suitable manner within the housing Ill. The lower portion of the housin contains refrigerating apparatus of any desired type (not shown), such as a mechanical compression and expansion refrigerating system. Adjacent each end of the cabinet Id at the level of the shelf 38 I provide feed belts 32 and 34. These feed belts are mounted upon rollers and are endless. The delivery belts 26 and 28 are positioned adjacent the vending level. These are endless belts positioned on rollers and extend in a direction at right angles to the direction of the feed belts 32 and 34. The merchandise carried by the vending shelf 30 is placed in a plurality of parallel rows indicated by the dotted lines in Figure .2. A pusher member 36 is secured to an endless sprocket chain 38 by means of clamp 48. A parallel chain 42 is positioned to the other end of pusher member as by means of a clamp 44. The sprocket chains 38 and 42 run the full length of the machine and span the shelf One end of the chain 38 passes around an idler sprocket 46 carried by the shaft 48 at the right-hand side of the machine. The other end of the sprocket chain 38 passes around a driving sprocket wheel 50 carried by the shaft at the other end of the machine. The sprocket chain 42 has its righthand end disposed about an idler sprocket wheel 54 and its left-hand end about a driving sprocket wheel (not shown) secured to the shaft 52. A motor 56 carries a driving sprocket wheel 58 driving a transmission chain fill disposed about a driven sprocket wheel 62 secured to the shaft 52. The arrangement is such that when the motor 55 operates the shaft 52 will be driven to drive sprocket chains 38 and 42 in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2. A second pusher member E4 is secured to a sprocket chain 66 adjacent one end by means of the clam 63. The other end of the pusher member (54 is secured to a sprocket chain ID by means of a clamp I2. The chain If! has its left end disposed about an idler sprocket wheel carried loosely by the shaft 52. The righthand end of the chain I0 is carried by a driving sprocket wheel I4 secured to the shaft 48 for rotation therewith. The left-hand end of the sprocket chain 66 is disposed about an idler sprocket wheel It. The right-hand end of the sprocket chain BIS is secured to a sprocket wheel I8 which is secured to the shaft 48 for rotation therewith. A motor 8%? drives a transmission sprocket chain 82 similar to the transmission chain I50 to drive the shaft 48 in a direction so that chains 85 and ID will move in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 2 to move the pusher 64 to the right.

It will be seen that the position of the pusher 64 determines the area upon the shelf to be occupied by the beverages which are moved to the right and that the position of the pusher determines the area upon the shelf 30 of the beverages which are to be vended toward the left. Adjacent the rear of the machine I have provided a pair of push rods 90 and 92 adapted to contact respectively levers 94 and 96 which are pivoted to supporting members 923 and It!) about pivots I532 and I04, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 2. The push rod and the lever 94 are shown on a larger scale in Figure 7 to which reference is now had. When it is desired to position the pusher 36 initially it will be necessary to release the connection between the drive and the shaft 52 to which the sprocket wheel 50 and the corresponding sprocket wheel which drives chain 42 are attached. A clutch member I06 is secured to shaft 52 by means of pin I08 for rotation therewith. The pin Hi8 islodged in a slot III) formed in the shaft 52 so that it may slide axially thereof. The end of lever 94 is formed with a flange I I2 lodged in the groove II 4 formed in the clutch collar I45. The sprocket wheel 62 is secured to a bushing H5 which is loosely mounted on the shaft. A spring I 18 normally urges the clutch collar I05 upwardly as in Figure 7. When the pusher member all is moved upwardly the lever 94 is rotated in a clockwise direction so that the flange will move the collar I05 downwardly against the action of spring IIB, moving the pins I20 out of the bushing I16, thus disconnecting the drive from the shaft 52. The pusher membe 35 can then be adjusted manually to any position. A similar structure is provided for the adjustment of pusher member 64 in which the bushing H5 corresponds to bushing H6 and the spring I08 corresponds to spring IIIl. It is thus seen that the proportion of beverages of each kind which are to be vended from the vending level to the right and to the left is determined by the position of the push members 36 and 64. Indeed, if it is desired, these push members may be separated from each other so that a variation of the number of containers of the beverages to be vended may be readily achieved.

A pair of rollers I30 and I32 are mounted for rotation about shafts parallel to each other and extending in the direction of the movement of the sprocket chains 38 and 42. The roller I32 is secured to a shaft I34 which carries a sprocket wheel I36. A motor I38 is provided with a shaft I38 carrying a sprocket wheel I40. A sprocket chain I42 extends between the sprocket wheels I40 and I36 so that the motor I38 is adapted to rotate the roller I32 in a counterclockwise direction viewed from the right in Figure 2. The endless feed belt 32 is positioned around rollers I39 and I32 and the upper surface thereof is adapted to move in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. The upper surface of the feed belt, furthermore, is positioned closely adjacent to the edge of the shelf 30. In a similar manner a motor I44 is adapted to rotate the roller I46 in a clockwise direction viewed from the left. A roller I48 is mounted spaced from and parallel to the roller I45 and these rollers, positioned to the right of the shelf 30, as viewed in Figure 2, support the feed belt 34. The upper surface of the feed belt is adapted to move downwardly as shown by the arrow in Figure 2 and is positioned on a level with and closely adjacent to the right-hand edge of the shelf 30. A roller or drum I50 is positioned with its axis extending at right angles to the axis of the shaft I34, that is, parallel to the direction of motion of the feed belt 32. A similar roller I52 is positioned near the center of the machine for rotation around an axis parallel to the axis of roller I50. An endless delivery belt 26 is carried by the rollers the upper surface of which is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of feed belt 32. A roller I54 analogous to roller I50 and a roller I56 analogous to roller I52 are adapted tov mount av second delivery belt 28. The roller I52. is driven from motor I58 and sprocket chain I160 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front so that the upper surface of the delivery belt 26 will move in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. The roller I56 is driven from the motor I62 and sprocket chain I64 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction viewed from the front so as to rotate the. upper surface of the delivery belt 28, which is coplanar with the upper surface of the feed belt 34', in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 2. The drive for the feed belt 34 is shown in greater detail in Figure 6 in which the motor I44 carries a sprocket wheel I43. The roller I46 is carried by shaft I45 to which is secured a sprocket wheel I41. A sprocket chain I49 extends between sprocket wheel I43 and sprocket wheel I41 to rotate the roller I46 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left. The motor I44 is controlled by a push button I10 which is made effective after a coin is placed into the coin slot I12 shown in Figure 1. The motor I 38 is controlled by a push button I14 likewise rendered effective by the deposit of a coin. By passing either push button I14 or I10 the purchaser makes a selection of a beverage from either the right-hand or the left-hand side of the machine, as may be determined by reference to a legend visible through window I16 or window I18. If the right-hand side of the machine is depleted of beverages, an empty light is visible through window I80. If the left-hand side of the machine is depleted of beverages, an empty light is visible through window I82. If a purchaser changes his mind after depositing a coin he may have the coin returned by operating the coin return lever I84 which will return the coin to the return coin opening I86.

The function of motors 56 and 80 is to operate the respective pushers 36 and 64 through the sprocket chain drives already described. The function of the pushers is to transfer a row of bottles or containers of beverage from the shelf 30 to the upper surface of a feed belt such as feed belt 32 shown in Figure 4. The motor I38 is controlled by the microswitch I90 operated through switch arm I92 through a link I94 connected to the end of a crank I 96. The crank I96 is secured to a shaft I90 for rotation therewith. The shaft I98 is mounted adjacent the left-hand side of the machine above the tops of the containers such as bottles I99 of beverage. A flap 200 is secured to the shaft I98 by means of plate 202 which also carries a counterweight 204. The function of the counterweight is to rotate the flap 200 so that its lower edge moves toward the shelf 30. For example, in Figure 4 the flap 200 is shown contacting the row of bottles I90. This rotates the shaft I98 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 4 and 5 and raises the link I 94 to actuate the switch arm I92 to energize the motor 56, thus causing pusher 36 to push the row of bottles onto the feed belt 32 moving the flap 200 to its right-hand dotted line position indicated by the reference numeral I in which position the link I94 moves downwardly moving the switch arm I92 to interrupt the circuit through motor 56. If no bottles I99 are on the shelf 30 the counterweight 204 will rotate the flap 200 to the dotted line position indicated by the reference numeral 203. To achieve the position the link I 94 must move upwardly a little further. This interrupts the motor circuit and makes a circuit to energize the empty light, as will be described in reater detail hereinafter. Aswitch box 206 is positioned adjacent the righthand side of the machine and a switch box 208 is positioned adjacent the left-hand side of the machine- The switch box 206 carries an arm 2 I0 in the path of containers being fed by the feed belt 34. The switch, box 208 carries an arm 2I2 in the path ofv containers being fed by the feed belt 32. The circuit through motor I44 can only be made when the switch arm H0 is in the position shown in Figure 6. The circuit through motor I38 can only be made when switch arm 2I2 is in an analogous position. As a container is fed by feed belt 34 onto the delivery belt 28 it will strike switch arm 2I0 and interrupt the feeding of containers by means of the feed belt 34. This ensures that only one container will pass onto the delivery belt, it being understood that the position of the switch arm is such as to permit one and only one container to pass to the delivery belt.

As the switch arm moves downwardly as viewed in Figure 6 it will start the operation of the motor I62 and thus cause the delivery belt to carry the container in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. A switch plunger 240 is adapted to be contacted by a container on the delivery belt to stop the operation of motor I62. At this time the container will be beneath the door I8 and the handle 22 may be used to open the door to remove the delivered container. In a similar fashion the delivery belt 26 is adapted to deliver its kind of beverage until the container contacts the switch button 242 which stops the actuation of the motor I58.

Referring now to Figure 8, let us say that a coin 30I which has been inserted through the coin slot I12 falls onto a money shelf (not shown) so that it can be accepted as soon as the feed belt operates and can be returned by operating the coin return. In falling to the money shelf the coin wipes by a pair of brushes 300 and 302. The system is energized from a, power source connected to binding post 304 operating to ground. A light 306 energized from the hot wire 368 to ground 3I0 indicates that power is connected to the machine. A fuse 3I2 protects the machine against short circuits. As the coin passes by the brushes 300 and 302 current will flow momentarily from the hot wire 308 through the conductor 3I4, through the conductor 3I6, through the winding of relay 3I8, through thermostatic protective element 320, through conductor 322 to ground 324. If a coin should become stuck across brushes 300 and 302 or if it be attempted to short circuit the brushes, the thermostatic protective element 320 will open the circuit through the relay 3I8. As soon as the relay SIB operates, its armature 326 will complete the circuit across contact points 328 and 330 so that a current will then flow through conductor 334, through the arm 2I2 of switch box 208, to contact point 336, through conductor 338, to contact point 340 of switch box 206, through arm 2I0, through conductor 344, to contact point 328, through the armature 326, to contact point 330 and thence through the holding relay 318 to ground, thus maintaining the circuit in operative condition even though the coin passes the brushes 300 and 302 only momentarily. Current will also flow from Contact point 330 through conductor 3I6, through conductor 346. to binding post 348, thence through conductor 350 to contact point 352 and through parallel conductor 356 to contact point 35? The push button I14 for controlling the feed motor I38 is pressed if a purchaser desires a beverage from the left-hand side of the machine. push button I10 controlling the feed motor I44 is pressed if a purchaser desires a beverage from the righthand side of the machine. Let us assume that a purchaser presses button I14. When this occurs the upper contact 300 completes a circuit through relay 362 to ground 364 through thermostatic protective element 355. This attracts the armature 368 of the relay 382 and completes a circuit through conductor 310 to contact point 312, to contact point 314 and ensures that relay 352 will be held in an energized condition even though the button I14 has been pressed only momentarily. At the same time the upward motion of the armature in. terrupts the circuit across contact points 3'15 and 311 to ensure that the circuit through. the right-hand feed motor I44 is interrupted. This avoids any possibility of a purchaser obtaining two beverages for one coin by pressing both push buttons I14 and I10. The energization of contact point 314 permits current to flow through conductor 315 to contact point 580, across armature 3'82 to contact point 318, thence through conductor 384 to feed motor I33, through conductor 386 to switch segment 388, to ground 390. If instead of pressing button I14 a purchaser pressed button I10, current would flow through conductor 35%, across the contact 352 of the push button. I10, through holding relay 394, through thermostatic protective element to ground 398, attracting armature 382. The upward motion of armature 302 interrupts the circuit across contact points 380 and 318 to ensure that the feed motor I30 cannot operate. At same time the armature 382 completes the circuit across contact points 400 and 402 so that current will now flow through the holding relay 394 by way of the circuit across these contact points to ensure that contact point 400 will be energized even though push button I10 is but momentarily operated. Current will also flow from contact point 400 through conductor 404 to the contact point 315, across armature Slit to contact point 311 and thence through conciuctor 406 through. the feed motor I44, through conductor 408 to the switch segment ih'l to ground M2, thus operating the feed motor I44. Let us assume that button I14 was pressed to select a beverage from the left-hand side of the machine and feed motor I35 has been set in operation as described. the feed motor I38 will move the feed belt 32 to transfer a container of beverage onto the delivery belt 26. The feed motor I38 will continue to run until the leading edge of the container strikes switch arm 2I2, moving it in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 8. The initial movement of the arm 2I2 interrupts the holding circuit through the relay winding 3'i8 so that the armature 326 will drop, breaking the circuit through the holding relay 362 and through the feed motor I38, thereby stopping the motor. If the motor I44 operating the feed belt on the right-hand side of the machine were employed, the container would strike the arm 2I0 and interrupt the circuit through holding relay 3I8 across contact point 340 and the arm 2H1 so that the holding relay 394 and the feed motor I44 would be deenergized.

The movement of the arm 2I2 downwardly makes the circuit across contact points 450 and The operation of r 452 so that current will flow through the holding relay winding 454 to ground 4'56, energizing the relay and attracting the armature 458. When the armature is attracted current will flow through conductor 460 across normally closed interrupter switch 242 to contact point 464, to contact point 466 and through the relay winding 454v maintaining it energized. Current will also flow from the contact point 466 through conductor 468, through the delivery motor I58 through conductor 410 to ground 41 I. The actuation of the motor I58 will move the container toward the interrupter switch 242. When the container strikes this interrupter switch the relay winding 454 will be de-energized and the circuit through the delivery motor I58 broken. A container moving along feed belt 34 on the righthand side of the machine will strike the arm 2I0 and energize the relay 412 across contact points 414 and 415. When the relay 412 is energized the armature 418 will make the circuit across contact points 480 and 482, thereby enabling the relay 412 to remain energized through conductor 484 by way of the interrupter switch 240. At the same time the circuit through motor I62 to ground 41I will be completed through conductor 436. When the delivery belt has brought the container to the proper position underneath the door I8, the interrupter switch 240 will de-energize the relay 412 and the delivery motor I62.

Let us now assume that the last container carried by the feed belt 34 has passed onto the delivery belt so that the flap 200 at the right hand side of the machine moves upwardly to the position shown in Figure 4. When this occurs the arm I02 of the switch housing I90 positioned at the right-hand side of the machine will move in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8, so that the switch sector 500, which is insulated from arm I92, will complete the circuit across contact points 5M and 502, thus energizing the motor from conductor 503 to ground 504. The motor 80 will run until the circuitacross the contact points 50I and 502 is broken, which will occur when the motor 80 has driven the pusher B4 to bring a row of containers I99 into position on the feed belt 34 associated with the right-hand side of the machine, thus moving the flap 200 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. When the flap reaches this position the storage motor 530 will stop and another row of containers is in a position to be fed onto the delivery belt in response to coins and customers selection. If there are no containers of beverage left upon the shelf, the flap 200 will move inwardly to a position similar to that shown by the dotted line position 203 in Figure 4. When this occurs the sector 500 will complete the circuit across contact points EDI and 505. It will also be observed that the switch arm I92 will move from the sector 0H] so that when the button I10 is pressed the feed motor I44 cannot operate since it will be disconnected from the ground 4 I2. On the other hand, the relay 501 will be operated by the lower contact 508 of the button I10. This will energize the coin return mechanism indicated by the reference numeral 509 and illuminate the empty signal light I80 so that the purchaser pressin button I10 when the storage shelf is empty will receive his money through the coin return and be informed that the right-hand side of the machine is empty. A similar arrangement operates the motor 56 in which the switch arm associated with the left-hand side of the machine and operated by the movement of the flap 200 will ener- 9,. gize the storage motor 56. The push button I14 carries a lower contact |0adapted, when the circuit is made across contact points 5| I and '5l2 by the sector 5|3, which is insulated from arm 388, to operate the coin return relay 5M and energize the empty signal light I82 for the lefthand side of the machine, upon the pressing of the button I74, in a manner similar to the operation of the push button I when the right-hand side of the machine is empty, as described. It is understood, of course, that when th left-hand side of the machine becomes depleted of merchandise and the sector 5 I 3 makes a circuit across contact points 5!! and 5l2 the circuit through the feed motor I38 is broken by interrupting its connection to ground through the sector 388, so that the feed motor cannot be operated when thestorage shelf is depleted of merchandise.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a beverage vending machine of increased capacity for vending one or several varieties of a beverage in predetermined quantities in which the proportion of beverages of one kind with respect to beverages of another kind may be varied within wide limits in a simple, convenient and expeditious manner. I have provided a beverage vending machine which may be used to vend cartoned or bottled beverages of various sizes and shapes. My vending machine transfers beverages automatically from a storage level to a feed belt and from the feed belt to a delivery belt, which in turn transfers the beverage to a vendin position underneath a small closed door from which the delivered container of beverage may be removed. In my vending machine the delivery openings are small and normally closed so that the refrigeration load on the machine is reduced. The delivery position is remote from the feed belt and isolated from the storage level so that merchandise may not be fished from the machine through the delivery door. The feed belt is automatically replenished whenever it becomes empty and a container of beverage is automatically transferred to a delivery belt upon purchase, which in turn automatically delivers the purchased container to the vending position. Whenever the storage level is empty the feed belt cannot be operated. The delivery belt is operated automatically only upon the delivery of merchandise to it.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcornbinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A vending machine including in combination a housing, a horizontally positioned storage shelf carried within said housing for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended, a pair of rollers carried adjacent one end of said housing, an endless feed belt positioned on said rollers with its upper surface coplaner with said storage shelf, a second pair of rollers positioned within said housing, an endless delivery belt carried by said rollers and extending at right angles to said feed belt said delivery belt being adapted to receive articles being vended from said feed belt, a pusher for transferring a plurality of articles from said storage shelf to said feed belt, a coin-controlled means for moving said feed belt to deliver an article therefrom to said delivery belt, means responsive to the movement of an article from said feed belt to said delivery belt for stopping the movement of said feed belt and for initiating the movement of said delivery belt and means responsive to the movement of an article being carried by the delivery belt to a predetermined vending position for stopping the movement of said delivery belt.

2. A vending machine as in claim 1, including means responsive to the movement of the last article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for initiating the movement of said pusher to transfer a plurality of articles from said storage shelf to said feed belt and means responsive to the movement of the articles onto the feed belt for stopping the movement of said pusher.

3. A vending machine as in claim 1, including a motor, means for coupling said motor to said pusher, means responsive to the movement of the last article from said feed belt to said delivery belt for initiating the action of said motor, means responsive to the movement of articles from the storage shelf to the feed belt for stopping the action of the motor and means for uncoupling said pusher from said motor whereby to enable the position of the pusher to be adjusted.

4. A vending machine as in claim 1, in which said housing is provided with a normally closed door, said door being positioned adjacent the predetermined vending position.

5. A vending machine as in claim 1, in which said coin-controlled means for moving said feed belt comprises a motor, means for coupling the output of said motor to one of said rollers, and coin-controlled means for energizing said motor.

6. A vending machine as in claim 1 in which said means responsive to the movement of the article from the feed belt to the delivery belt stopping the movement of the feed belt and for initiating the movement of the delivery belt includes a motor, means for coupling the output of said motor to drive said delivery belt, a normally closed switch, a normally open switch, switch operating means adapted to open said normally closed switch and close said normally open switch, said normally open switch adapted to control the initiation of said motor.

'7. A vending machine as in claim 1, including a motor, means for coupling said motor to said pusher, article contacting means, means for pivoting said article contacting means adjacent the feed belt, means for biasing said article contacting means to contact articles upon said feed belt, a switch, a coupling means between said article contacting means and said switch, the construction being such that when the last article on said feed belt is fed to the delivery belt said article contacting means will move toward said storage shelf to operate said switch to initiate the action of said motor to actuate said pusher to replenish said feed-belt.

8. A vending machine as in claim 1, including in combination an article contacting means, means for pivoting said article contacting means from said housing adjacent the feed belt, means for biasing said article contacting'means to pivot toward saidstorage shelf, a multiposition switch, means interconnecting said article contacting means and said multiposition switch, a motor for said pusher, a second motor for said feed belt the construction being such that said article contacting member will contact articles on said feed belt to position said multiposition switch in a position lie-energizing said pusher motor, and upon the feeding of the last article from said feed belt said article contacting member will pivot to contact articles on said storage shelf and position said multiposition switch to energize said pusher motor to replenish said feed belt with articles to be vended and upon the depletion of articles upon said storage shell": will swing to a position to stop said pusher motor and to de-energize said ieed belt motor.

9. A vending machine including in combination a housing, a storage shelf positioned in said housing, a first feed belt having its upper surface coplanar with the stroage shelf mounted for movement adjacent one end of the housing, a second i'eed belt having its upper surface coplanar with the storage shelf mounted for movement adjacent the other end of the housing, a first delivery belt mounted for movement at right angles to the direction of movement of the first feed belt adapted to receive articles from the first feed belt, a second delivery belt mounted for movement at right angles to the direction of movement of the second feed belt adapted to receive articles from the second feed belt, a pair of pushers positioned between articles on said storage shelf, means for adjusting the position of said pushers, coin-controlled means for selectively moving said feed belts.

means responsive to the movement of the last article from a respective feed belt for operating a respective pusher to move articles from the storage shelf to the respective feed belt, means responsive to the movement of articles from the storage shelf to the respective feed belt for rendering said respective pusher operating means inoperative, means responsive to the movement of an article from a respective feed belt to its respective delivery belt for stopping the movement of the respective feed belt and initiating the movement of the respective delivery belt and means responsive to the movement of an article carried by the respective delivery belt to a pre determined vending position for stopping the operation of the delivery belt.

10, A vending machine as in claim 9, in which said predetermined vending position for each of said delivery belts is adjacent the center of the machine.

'11. A vending machine as in claim 9, in which said housing is provided with a pair of normally closed, manually openable, doors positioned adjacent the respective vending positions.

12. A vending machine as in claim 9, includ ing means to vary the position of the pushers both with respect to each other and with respect to said storage shelf whereby to proportion the quantity of articles upon said storage shelf to be serviced by respective pushers.

13. A vending machine as in claim 9, including in combination a first pair of motors for operating said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for said motors comprising a normally de-energized holding relay, a coin register adapted to energize said relay upon the deposit of a coin of predetermined denomination, means for energizing the feed belt motor circuit upon the energization of said holding relay, a pair of selectively operable push buttons adapted to energize respective feed belt motors and a switch operable by the delivery of merchandise from the feed belt to the delivery belt for de-energizing said holding relay and for stopping said feed belt motor.

14. A vending machine as in claim 9, including in combination a first pair of motors for operating said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for said motors comprising a source or" potential, a normally de-energized holding relay adapted to energize the feed belt motor circuits, coin switch means for energizing said holding relay to energize said feed belt motor circuits, a pair of selectively operable push buttons, a pair of normally de-energized holding relays associated with said push buttons, an armature associated with each relay for completing a holding circuit through the same and for breaking the motor circuit associated with the other push button whereby to prevent the operation of bothfeed belt motors by the press ing of both push buttons.

15. A vending machine as in claim 9, including in combination a first pair of motors for operating said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for said motors comprising a source of potential, a normally de-energized holding relay, coin switch means for energizing said relay to energize the feed belt motor circuits, a pair of relays, push buttons associated with said relays adapted to be selectively operable to energize the respective feed belt motor associated therewith and switch means responsive to the movement of an article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for de-energizing said feed belt motor and energizing said delivery belt motor.

16. A vending machine as in claim 3, including in combination a first pair of motors for operating said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for motors comprising a source of potential, a normally deenergized holding lelay, coin switch means for energizing said relay to energize the feed belt motor circuits, a pair of relays, push buttons associated with said lays adapted to be selectively operable to ener gize the respective feed. belt motor associated therewith, switch means responsive to the move ment of an article from the feed belt to the deli-w ery belt for de-energizing said feed bolt motor and energizing said delivery belt motor, and switch means responsive to the moveme t of an article to a predetermined vending position ior de-energizing said delivery belt motor.

17. A vending machine as in claim 9, includingin combination a first pair motors for operat ing said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for said motors comprising a pair of push buttons adapted to be selectively operated to energize one of said feed belt motors, switch means operable by the movement of an article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for stcpping the feed belt motor and energizing a respective delivery belt motor, switch means operable by the movement of an article to a predetermined vending position for stopping the delivery belt motor, and switch means operable 13 by the movement of the last article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for energizing a pusher motor including switch means operable by the depletion of articles from the storage shelf for de-energizing the feed belt motor circuit and said pusher motor circuit.

18. A vending machine as in claim 9, including in combination a first pair of motors for operating said pushers, a second pair of motors for operating said feed belts and a third pair of motors for operating said delivery belts, a control circuit for said motors comprising a pair of push buttons adapted to be selectively operated to energize one of said feed belt motors, switch means operable by the movement of an article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for stopping the feed belt motor and energizing a respective delivery belt motor, switch means oper able by the movement of an article to a predetermined vending position for stopping the delivery 2 l4 belt motor, switch means operable by the movement of the last article from the feed belt to the delivery belt for energizing a pusher motor including switch means operable by the depletion of articles from the storage shelf for tie-energizing the feed belt motor circuit and said pusher motor circuit, and switch means for energizing a coin return relay when said storage shelf is empty whereby upon the operation of the push button associated with the empty storage shelf the deposited coin will be returned.

CHRISTIAN GABRIELSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 23,103 Newcomer Apr. 26, 1949 1,457,300 Cohen June 5, 1923 2,452,837 Colbert Nov. 2, 1948 

